Because of the various rule changes made by MLB, teams and individual players have quickly recognized and taken advantage of the added incentives for attempting to steal bases. Bigger bases, as well as limiting pitchers to two disengagements per plate appearances, have given teams every reason they needed to start running.
24 days into the 2022 MLB season, all 30 teams attempted 412 steals with a 73 percent success rate, in comparison to 515 attempts and a 79 percent success rate 24 days into the 2023 season. In that context, having a competent position player that can effectively fulfill the table-setting leadoff role is has become more important for teams that are looking to compete in the postseason.